Vertically adjustable bed



March 19, 1968 R. GOODMAN VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE BED 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Sept. 13, 1966 ..Q A. R mm 1. m N T I L A a w March 19 1968 R.GOOD MAN VERTIQALLY ADJUSTABLE BED 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 13, 1966IN VE N TOR. R0 barf Good man.

March 19, 1968 .R. GOODMAN VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE BED 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IFiled Sept. 13, 1966 INVENTOQ Roberi Goodman, i g AORNIE'V United StatesPatent Office 3,373,453 VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE BED Robert Goodman, 5325Westminster Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. 19131 Filed Sept. 13, 1966, Ser. No.579,158 10 Claims. (Cl. --63) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An adjustablebed having a bottom support means upon which is positioned a frame. Theframe is movable in a vertical direction into any incremental positionof vertical adjustment. A bed-spring is supported on the frame and isprovided with pivotal head and foot sections that are individuallymovable from a horizontal to various inclined positions. The verticaladjustment of the frame is effected by pivotally interconnectedcross-bars at each end of the bed. The cross-bars are, preferably,connected, above their pivotal connection, by a tension spring. Thesecross-bars serve both to support the frame and to adjust it vertically.They also automatically retain the frame in each vertical position.

This invention relates to an adjustable bed frame, and it particularlyrelates to a bed frame which is vertically adjustable and which mayalso, if desired, have a separately adjustable contour-type springframe.

Although there have heretofore been vertically adjustable bed frames,all such previous bed frames have been subject to one or more defects.They have either not been sufficiently sturdy and rigid in theirvertically adjusted positions, or they have not been capable ofadjustment to any desired degree of height within predetermined limits,or they have been too complicated to be commercially feasible, or theyhave been too diflicult to adjust. In addition, in such prior bedframes, it was generally not possible to accommodate a variablyadjustable contour-type bed spring which could be separately andindividually adjusted.

It is therefore one object of the present invention to overcome thevarious disadvantages of prior adjustable bed frames by providing avertically adjustable bed frame which is adjustable to infinitely smallincrements of height and which is nevertheless sturdily and rigidlysupported in all vertical positions of adjustment.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bed frame of theaforesaid type which is simple in construction, inexpensive tomanufacture and easy to operate.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bed frame of theaforesaid type in combination with an individually and separatelyadjustable contour bed spring.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the presentinvention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes betterunderstood by reference to the following description when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective side view of a bed frame and contour bed springcombination embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view as seen from line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view as seen from the reverse position relativeto the view of FIG. 2, and at an angle from right to left as viewed inFIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 2 but showing an alternateembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to FIGS. 2 and 4 but showinganother alternate embodiment of the invention.

Referring now in greater detail to the various figures of 3,373,453Patented Mar. 19, 1968 the drawings wherein similar characters refer tosimilar parts, there is shown in FIG. 1 a bed, generally designated 10,having a lower frame portion, generally designated 12, and an upperspring frame, generally designated 14.

The spring frame 14 is of the contour-type which comprises a headsection 16, a front intermediate section 18, a rear intermediate section20 and a foot section 22. These sections are pivoted to each other andare relatively pivotally adjust-able from a flat position to a contourposition such as illustrated in FIG. 1. The linkage and actuatingmechanism for supporting and adjusting the spring frame 14, as well asthe spring frame itself, are generally standard equipment and, bythemselves, form no part of the present invention except in thecombination shown. Since the spring frame 14 and its associated linkageand actuating mechanism, per se, are standard equipment, the detailsthereof need not be described herein.

The linkage supporting the spring frame 14 is supported by a pair ofside bars 24 and 26 forming part of the lower frame portion 12. The bars24 and 26 are constructed of metal angle-irons and are in turn supportedon a pair of side bars 28 and 30 which support head and foot plates 32and 34 at opposite ends, and also support side protectors 36 and 38. Apair of front and rear transverse bars 40 and 42 connect the side bars24 and 26 at the head and the side bars 28 and 30 at the foot end.

As best seen in FIG. 2, a pair of cross bars 44 and 46 are provided atthe head end and a similar pair of cross bars are provided at the footend. Each pair of bars 44 and 46 are pivoted to each other at 48, thebar 44 having a roller 50 at its upper end and the bar 46 having aroller 52 at its lower end. The roller 50 on bar 44 is movable in aguide channel 54 on the bar 42 while the lower end of the bar 44 ispivotally connected at 56 to a bottom support platform bar 58 having acaster 60 at each end. The roller 52 on bar 46 is movable in a guidechannel 62 on the platform bar 58 while the upper end of the bar 46 ispivotally connected at 64 to a flange 66 on the bar 42.

The platform bar 58 at the foot end also supports a bracket 68 to whichis connected a fork 70. The fork 70 supports one end of a jack screwcylinder 72 having a threaded shaft 74 extending therefrom. An electricreversible motor 76 is operatively connected through gears (not shown)to the shaft 74 to move the shaft in opposite directions. The shaft 74is connected to the upper end of a fork 78 which is connected at itslower end to a rotatable rod 80-. At each end of the rod 80 is connectedone end of a lever 82 while, at the opposite end of each lever 82 is alink 84. Each link 84 is pivotally connected to a bar 44. The bars 44are connected to each other by a longitudinal brace bar 86. Anintermediate longitudinal brace rod 88 connects the levers 82 to eachother. The cross bars 44 and 46 are connected by a coil spring 90.

In the operation of the vertical adjusting mechanism described above,when it is desired to move the whole bed frame structure from a higherto a lower position, the motor 76 is actuated in one direction to movethe jack shaft 74 outwardly. This operates the levers 8-5 and links 84to pull the upper ends of the bars 44 down. As the bars 44 pivotdownwardly, causing the rollers 50 to ride laterally in the guides 54,the degree of angle opening between the bars 44 and 46 is reduced,causing the rollers 50 and 52 to come toward each other. As the pivotpoints 56 and 64 are, in effect, the similar ends of an equal andopposite triangle, they also move toward each other at exactly the samerate of speed. This causes the bed frame to descend in a continuouslylevel position. When it is desired to raise the bed frame, the motor isactuated in the reverse direction.

The above-described vertical adjusting mechanism is extremely simple,yet the scissors-like cross-bar arrangement of the bars 44 and 46provide a sturdy support in 3 all positions of adjustment, this supportbeing effected throughout the entire width of the bed frame. Thespringconnected scissors arrangement and the rollers 50 and 52 alsopermit the frame to stay in its horizontal position throughout thevertical adjustment.

In addition to being a simple, yet sturdy and effective verticaladjustment arrangement, as described above, this arrangement alsopermits the contour spring frame to be used in all vertical positions,and amply supports it during its own adjustments and withoutinterfering, in any way, with such adjustments.

In FIG. 4, there is shown a modified form of the device wherein all theparts are identical to those of the form shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, exceptthat the reversible motor 100, which actuates the jack screw shaft 102within cylinder 104, is provided with a handle 106 connected to themotor shaft 108. By means of this construction, it the motor shouldbecome inoperative, the handle 106 can be used to crank the mechanism.

FIG. 5 shows yet another embodiment whereby, instead of a motor, thejack shaft 200, extending through cylinder 202, is provided with amanual operating handle 204.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present inventionare possible in the light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, tobe understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, theinvention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a bed, a bottom support means, a frame supported on said bottomsupport means for vertical adjustment, at least two pairs of cross-bars,one at each end of said frame, the cross-bars of each pair beingpivotally connected to each other intermediate their respective ends,one of the cross-bars of each pair having a roller at its upper endmovable in a guide means on said frame and being pivoted to said supportmeans at its lower end, and the other cross-bar of each pair having aroller at its lower end movable in a guide means on said support meansand being pivoted at its upper end to said frame, a drive means, linkageincluding links pivotally connected to each other, said linkage beingconnected at one end to said drive means and at the other to onecross-bar of one pair to move said one cross-bar around its pivotedconnection with the other cross-bar of the pair, and connecting meansbetween each pair of cross-bars to provide simultaneous pivotal movementof each pair, said crossbars forming both a supporting and a verticaladjusting means for said frame.

2. The bed of claim 1 wherein said drive means comprises a jack-screwassembly having a motor operatively connected thereto.

3. The bed of claim 1 wherein said drive means comprises a jack-screwassembly having a manually operable handle.

4. A vertically adjustable bed comprising an upper frame and a lowerframe, the upper frame being supported by the lower frame, support meansfor said lower frame, at least two vertical adjusting means connectingsaid lower frame to said support means, said adjusting means beingspaced from each other longitudinally of said bed andeach comprising apair of cross-bars pivotally connected to each other intermediate theirrespective ends, one of the cross-bars of each pair having a roller atits upper end movable in a guide means on the lower frame and beingpivoted to said support means at its lower end, and the other cross-barof each pair having a roller at its lower end'movable in a guide meanson said support means and being pivoted at its upper end to said lowerframe, a drive means, linkage including links pivotally connected toeach other, said linkage being connected at one end to said drive meansand at the other end to one cross-bar of one pair to move said onecrossbar of the pair, and connecting means between the said onecross-bar and the corresponding cross-bar on the other pair, saidconnecting means being constructed and arranged to move saidcorresponding cross-bar around its pivotal connection with its othercross-bar in synchronism with said one cross-bar, said cross-barsforming both a supporting and a vertical adjusting means for said frame.

5. The bed of claim 4 wherein said drive means comprises a motor-drivenjack screw assembly.

6. The bed of claim 4 wherein said drive means comprises amanually-actuated jack-screw assembly.

7. The bed of claim 4 wherein said drive means comprises a jack-screwassembly, a motor operatively connected to said jack-screw assembly, anda manually operable handle connected to said motor shaft for selectiveoperation alternately with said motor.

8. The bed of claim 1 wherein a tension means is connected between thecross-bars of each pair.

9. The bed of claim 4 wherein said upper frame comprises a contourspring frame having separately movable head, foot and intermediatesections, said contour spring frame being vertically movable with saidlower frame in all selected positions of contour adjustment.

10. The bed of claim 4 wherein a tension means is connected between thecross-bars of each pair.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,802,219 8/1957 Travis 5672,807,808 10/ 1957 Wetzler 563 3,081,463 3/ 1963 Williams et a1. 5-633,110,476 11/1963 Farris 254122 3,191,195 6/1965 Schlackman et a1. 566 X3,237,921 3/1966 Jay 254-122 3,245,366 4/1966 Fox 108147 X 3,308,4853/1967 Evans 5-63 CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner,

